Chapter 1155: Chapter 1123: Massacre (Part 2)
If the deck of the freighter was adorned with bloodstains, then facing the corridor and stairs at this moment could only be described as being soaked with blood. This time Troy managed to suppress his aversion to the gore; he widened his eyes, observing the scene with his clear gaze. Despite trying hard to imagine, he couldn’t fathom what transpired on this ship—the bodies are absent, only the bloodstains remain.
The soles scraping against the stains produced a grinding sound, wearing away the dried red powder. In some places, the depth of the bloodstains allowed for shoe imprints. On the iron plates, specks of blood were splattered, and every scene evoked images of the slain, and the way blood sprayed onto the walls and landed on the floor.
"No traces of bullet holes, they used cold weapons, can’t determine without bodies." Black Doctor had similar visions in his mind with each step he took.
"Hmm!" Xiao Lin, leading ahead, agreed with Black Doctor’s assessment. "The bodies must still be on the ship; even if they wanted to destroy evidence, so many can’t be cleaned up swiftly. The coagulation of blood on the floor hasn’t been badly disturbed."
In their conversation, the three arrived at the control room, also stained with blood. This Mr. Su was certainly willing to spend generously; how many people did he employ for protection on this freighter? Aside from the crew, there should be bodyguards. Yet it’s uncertain whether the drug lord met his end on the ship too—their intent seemed clear, aimed at the hundred tons of drugs.
The control room was exceptionally clean, with only a few spots of blood. No stains marred the floor. Blood had seeped under the keys on the instruments, and there were marks of bloody fingers on the wheel, which might explain why the freighter went off course.
Xiao Lin placed his hand on the compass, his fingers fitting perfectly with the marks left by the bloody fingers as he slowly closed his eyes.
The helmsman stood before the compass, hands at the nine o’clock position, steering toward the nearest coast. To the left of the control panel sat someone holding a communication device, the microphone lying sideways on the table. The helmsman seemed to shout something, eyes wide in fear, as the glass windows before him blurred with blood, obscuring the view beyond.
The control room’s door was kicked open; a group or an individual stormed in, slashing the helmsman’s back, splattering blood where he stood. The helmsman began turning the compass, blood staining his hands, leaving marks as he swiftly spun the wheel.
The second target was the control panel, and blood flowed from the severed neck of the deceased, head hanging lifelessly. Following this, the culprit sabotaged the computer systems, causing the ship to lose its course.
Opening his eyes, Xiao Lin saw the glass stained with blood, heard rapid footsteps from behind. Ye Lushu rushed in. "I found the bodies."
"They’re all in the engine room!" Xiao Lin responded, knowing the bodies must be piled in the engine room where they went unnoticed.
"Yes! The whole engine room is intact, but filled with bodies, preventing entry. Notably, the drug lord isn’t among them. Judging by their attire, they’re sailors and bodyguards. The wounds appear to be knife cuts around thirty centimeters long, and a lifeboat is missing."
"Boss, there’s something strange here!" Troy said, crouched in a corner with his back to Xiao Lin, intently tilting his head as he stared.
Exchange glances with Ye Lushu, Xiao Lin strode over behind Troy. Upon seeing the strange drawing, he couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise. Was it identical to one Hong Lian had left behind? Were these people Mu Rongyun’s subordinates? What were they trying to convey with this symbol?
Xiao Lin’s expression grew solemn, and Ye Lushu recognized the drawing immediately. "Is it Hong Lian?" Xiao Lin shook his head, began searching the control room, and when his search yielded no results, he dashed out.
"What happened?" Black Doctor inquired. "This thing seems like a puzzle," he said, looking at the odd-shaped drawing.
"Hmm! I already know the answer." Ye Lushu, removing the drawing with a swipe, was about to leave when he saw Xiao Lin rushing urgently from the stern. "There’s a discovery."
"We must leave here now. I found a clue."
Receiving a signal from the freighter, a nearby ship swiftly approached. Without waiting for it to dock, Xiao Lin and the others jumped aboard. Their boat reached full speed and was quickly far out at sea.
"Why leave so abruptly?" Ye Lushu asked, just as continuous explosions sounded behind them. He turned to see flames rising high in the distance, accompanied by crackling sounds that resembled ghostly ships at work in horror movies. The freighter split from the middle, its ends rising as it seemed to sink slowly, causing the waves around their boat to sway unpredictably even at sea miles away.
"How did this happen?" Ye Lushu questioned Xiao Lin, confused. "A timed explosive? Does such precise timing exist now?"
"Someone among us triggered something, provoking the explosion," Xiao Lin shook his head, "Mr. Su’s bodyguard is Lao Jiu. We must locate Mr. Su to uncover the truth."
"Where do we search in the vast ocean? It’s like finding a needle in a haystack."
"Mr. Su has a tracking system on him, we’ll find him," Xiao Lin answered, diving into the cabin, leaving the three on the deck. Ye Lushu stopped Troy who attempted to follow.
"He needs time alone now."
The symbol had a certain impact on Xiao Lin. Sixth Chapter D7S15Q504—what did it signify? What was Hong Lian trying to convey? Repeatedly attempting to decipher the code led to nothing. Just when considering giving up, the symbol appeared again, dauntingly presenting another problem amidst such circumstances.
Light footsteps approached from the stairway—Black Doctor appeared. "That drawing is a word puzzle, Ye Lushu said you decoded it. Can you share the answer?"
Xiao Lin hesitated, then spoke to Black Doctor. "Chapter six D7S15Q504!"
Black Doctor repeated the code slowly yet intently, as if imprinting the characters in his mind. "It sounds like a passage or Chapter from a book!"
"I’ve tried searching but found nothing matching."
"Perhaps check the Bible!"
"I’ve looked and matched with the code, but unfortunately, nothing fits."
"I’m not referring to our usual Bible, but the banned book circulating the underworld." (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you’re welcome to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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